Technology and Businesshttp://www.mbda.gov/taxonomy/term/93/all
enPrioritization Upgrade: Expanding Diversity in Our Technology Ecosystem Nowhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/mbda-agency/prioritization-upgrade-expanding-diversity-our-technology-ecosystem-now
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on June 9, 2015</span><br />
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<img alt="Tech Talent" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/sm_techtalent.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" /><em><em>This post originally appeared on the White House Blog</em></em></p>
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We are excited to be out in California today to roll up our sleeves and participate in the &ldquo;Diversity in Tech&rdquo; workshop, hosted by the White House and the Kapor Center for Social Impact. We are here to brainstorm and strategize with innovators from throughout the technology ecosystem to learn about what&#39;s worked for employers to recruit, retain, and advance top talent from under-represented communities, and for venture capitalists to fund and advise the full range of early start-up teams. We will hear about what&rsquo;s working already that could be scaled now, as well as understand where challenges need pilot exploration work and urgent innovation.</p>
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According to the Kapor Center, of all workers in the U.S. tech sector, only 7% are Latino, 6% are African-American, and only 15% come from the AAPI community. And women occupy only 28% of STEM jobs in the American workplace. According to surveys, 87% of U.S. venture capital-backed business founders are white, 12% are Asian, and less than 1% are African American. Less than 3% of companies that receive venture capital funding have a woman CEO. As a nation, we are leaving top talent on the sidelines, and that is a mistake for American businesses in a globally competitive economy. &nbsp;</p>
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<em>&ldquo;If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.&rdquo;</em></p>
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&mdash; Albert Einstein </p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/mbda-agency/prioritization-upgrade-expanding-diversity-our-technology-ecosystem-now" target="_blank">read more</a></p>MBDA Agency Technology and BusinessTue, 09 Jun 2015 13:13:08 +0000asowah3196 at http://www.mbda.govMBDA Pursues Tech-Transfer Opportunities for Minority-Owned Firms at the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s Annual Meetinghttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/mbda-agency/mbda-pursues-tech-transfer-opportunities-minority-owned-firms-federal-laboratory-consortium-s-annual-meeting
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on May 6, 2015</span><br />
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<img alt="MBDA Candace Shiver and Demetria Gallagher with Federal Labs Chair Zielinski" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/sm_fedlab_DG_CS.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 190px; float: right;" /></p>
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<span style="font-size:9px;">Candace Shiver, MBDA; Paul Zielinski, Director of the Technology Partnerships Office at NIST and Chair of Federal Laboratory Consortium; and Demetria Gallagher, MBDA (from left to right)</span></p>
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Last week, Candace Shiver and Demetria Gallagher of the Minority Business Development Agency&rsquo;s (MBDA) Office of the National Director, participated in the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) in Denver, Colorado.&nbsp; This meeting brought together hundreds of technology transfer professionals from both the public and private sector, providing in depth training and networking opportunities to initiate the establishment of interagency and industry partnerships<br />
to advance federal technologies from federal lab to the marketplace.</p>
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MBDA recognizes that the advancement of federal technology transfer programs requires a new comprehensive approach to engage minority business enterprises (MBEs) and students of color in the commercialization of technology and innovation.&nbsp; There are more than 65,000 minority employers in the technology industry with the potential to bring scientific discoveries to the marketplace by utilizing federal inventions and technologies. In order for the U.S. to remain globally competitive, it must leverage this diversity.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/mbda-agency/mbda-pursues-tech-transfer-opportunities-minority-owned-firms-federal-laboratory-consortium-s-annual-meeting" target="_blank">read more</a></p>MBDA Agency Technology and BusinessWed, 06 May 2015 15:10:26 +0000asowah3163 at http://www.mbda.govSecurity in the Mobile Erahttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/security-mobile-era
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on April 21, 2015</span><br />
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<img alt="Mobile Security" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_mobilesecurity.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 300px; float: right;" />By 2017, the number of smartphone users in the U.S. is expected to surpass 200 million, nearly 65 percent of the population. Negotiating security in the face of an ever-growing implementation of mobile devices presents serious challenges for organizations. Risks include the growth of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) (coupled with a lack of security controls for these devices), loss/theft of devices, and the proliferation of mobile malware.</p>
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Users need to understand the risks and the steps they can take to minimize them, particularly as cybercriminals often use employees as the entry point into an organization&rsquo;s network. Below are some key actions users can take to help minimize the likelihood of a successful cyber attack.</p>
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<strong>Regularly update your device.</strong></p>
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Mobile malware increased 75% in 2014 from 2013, and further increases in malware are expected in 2015, particularly in mobile ransomware. Updated operating systems and security software are critical in protecting against emerging threats.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/security-mobile-era" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Technology and BusinessTue, 21 Apr 2015 19:23:18 +0000asowah3151 at http://www.mbda.govNational Road Tour Promotes Innovation and Technologyhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/national-road-tour-promotes-innovation-and-technology
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on February 17, 2015</span><br />
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<img alt="SBIR Road Tour" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/sbir-road-tour.png" style="width: 300px; height: 156px; float: right;" />The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will launch an 18 state road tour, joined by 11 fellow federal agencies in the SBA&rsquo;s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.</p>
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The SBIR Road Tour &ldquo;Seeding America&rsquo;s Future Innovations,&rdquo; is a nationally focused outreach initiative targeting advanced technology communities, including women-owned and minority-owned small businesses in states that have underutilized funding opportunities through these programs. Today, the agency is launching information on the tour through <a href="http://www.sbir.gov/" target="_blank">www.sbir.gov</a> and will also launch a blog that will be active up through the end of the tour in late August.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/national-road-tour-promotes-innovation-and-technology" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Innovation Technology and BusinessTue, 17 Feb 2015 17:21:37 +0000asowah3057 at http://www.mbda.govNorthern California MBDA Business Centers Help Minority Entrepreneurs Enter Technology Transfer, Innovation Markethttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/northern-california-mbda-business-centers-help-minority-entrepreneurs-enter-technology-transfer-innovation
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on February 17, 2015</span><br />
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<img alt="MBDA MOU Signing" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/mbdamousigning.jpg" style="width: 350px; height: 238px; float: right;" />Led by National Director Alejandra Y. Castillo, <a href="http://www.mbda.gov/">the&nbsp;Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)</a> has been collaborating with the San Francisco MBDA Business Center (SFMBC), operated by ASIAN, Inc., to advance a groundbreaking technology transfer and innovation agenda.</p>
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The SFMBC, along with its sister San Jose and Fresno MBDA Business Centers, serve the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, which is universally recognized as one of the world&rsquo;s leading regions for technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Minority business entrepreneurs (MBEs) in this region are not short of innovative ideas and are all too eager to gain access to cutting-edge technologies from national laboratories and universities, especially in life sciences, IT, and clean technology sectors. We&rsquo;re working diligently to get those MBEs into these emerging markets.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/northern-california-mbda-business-centers-help-minority-entrepreneurs-enter-technology-transfer-innovation" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Innovation Technology and BusinessTue, 17 Feb 2015 17:10:32 +0000asowah3056 at http://www.mbda.govUpcoming Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Translation Webinarshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/upcoming-small-business-innovation-research-small-business-technology-translation-webinars
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on January 27, 2015</span><br />
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<img alt="Webinar" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_sbir_webinar.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;" />The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&amp;D) that has the potential for commercialization.</p>
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Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.</p>
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By including qualified small businesses in the nation&#39;s R&amp;D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.Get to know the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Translation (STTR) programs.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/upcoming-small-business-innovation-research-small-business-technology-translation-webinars" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Innovation Technology and BusinessTue, 27 Jan 2015 21:03:37 +0000asowah3034 at http://www.mbda.govBig Data Benefits U.S. Businesseshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/conducting-business-online/big-data-benefits-us-businesses
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on December 17, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Big Data" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_bigdata.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;" />The <a href="http://business.usa.gov/external-site?ccontent=http://clustermapping.us/about" target="_blank">landmark joint partnership</a> between the Harvard Business School and the U.S. government, created to give businesses access to new tools to compete in an increasingly competitive global economy.</p>
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<strong>How does it work?</strong> In short, the project uses over 50 million open data records to identify &ldquo;clusters&rdquo; of related industries that can be hubs of innovation, jobs, and private investment.</p>
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<strong>How does it benefit businesses and communities?</strong> The cluster mapping tool helps &quot;promote America&#39;s clusters and provide businesses and organizations with the data and strategies they need to capitalize on their region&#39;s assets,&quot; says U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/conducting-business-online/big-data-benefits-us-businesses" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Conducting Business OnlineTechnology and BusinessWed, 17 Dec 2014 21:01:27 +0000asowah2953 at http://www.mbda.govThe Next America: The Inclusion Economyhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/financial-education/next-america-inclusion-economy
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on November 13, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="National Journal Next America" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/nj_inclusioneconomy.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 202px; float: right;" />According to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report, the United States will not have a clear racial or ethnic majority by 2043. America&#39;s deepening diversity has huge implications for the country&#39;s economy, and is creating challenges and opportunities for the nation&#39;s financial system as it works to increase minority access to the financial mainstream.</p>
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San Francisco, California&mdash;a hub of technological innovation&mdash;is one of the many U.S. communities experiencing extraordinary population growth. However, experts say that the recession has hindered its residents&#39; ability to accumulate wealth, and asserts that increased financial literacy, financial&nbsp;<span>services innovation and improved access to credit and capital are fundamental to growing the region&#39;s economy.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/financial-education/next-america-inclusion-economy" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Financial EducationTechnology and BusinessThu, 13 Nov 2014 21:17:21 +0000asowah2909 at http://www.mbda.govFunding American Innovation http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/funding-american-innovation
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on November 4, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/sbir_sttr2014.JPG" style="width: 640px; height: 164px;" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/funding-american-innovation" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Innovation Technology and BusinessTue, 04 Nov 2014 05:00:00 +0000asowah2894 at http://www.mbda.govTrick or Treat...or Should We Say Trick or Threathttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/trick-or-treator-should-we-say-trick-or-threat
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on October 29, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Malware" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_malware.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px; float: right;" />October is not only National Cyber Security Awareness Month, it&#39;s also the time to celebrate Halloween, bringing to mind scary things that are merely figments of our imagination. In the digital world, however, there are many scary things that are <i>not</i> figments of our imagination, that we should in fact be worried about. The threats in cyber space are real. One of the most important concerns is malware, short for malicious software. The volume of malware continues to surge, with ransomware infections increasing, malware now targeting mobile devices, and new strands of malware attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in aging automated teller machines (ATMs).</p>
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Playing on the Halloween theme of scary things, below are some examples of malware you should be aware of, and some tips for minimizing your risks.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/trick-or-treator-should-we-say-trick-or-threat" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Technology and BusinessWed, 29 Oct 2014 16:21:26 +0000asowah2875 at http://www.mbda.govCybersecurity for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses and Entrepreneurshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/cybersecurity-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-and-entrepreneurs
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on October 22, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Cyber Security" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_cybersecurity.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 207px; float: right;" />Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the Nation&rsquo;s economy. Aside from the wide range of services they offer, small and medium-sized businesses store significant amounts of sensitive data, from customer information to intellectual property.&nbsp;</p>
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While bigger businesses can often dedicate greater resources towards cybersecurity, small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs face the same cybersecurity challenges and threats with limited resources, capacity, and personnel.</p>
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Entrepreneurs also face a unique cyber security threat as their data includes not only personnel data and financial spreadsheets, but valuable intellectual property that could be worth much more than even they realize. Entrepreneurs are recognizing this need and the fact that the cybersecurity field is a burgeoning marketplace. Entrepreneurs start and fail again (or start, succeed, sell and start again), so they should consider cyber security as a marketplace and focus their talents on creating new and affordable cyber solutions.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/cybersecurity-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-and-entrepreneurs" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Technology and BusinessWed, 22 Oct 2014 15:21:38 +0000asowah2866 at http://www.mbda.govFive Tips for Protecting Your Intellectual Property in Global Businesshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/five-tips-protecting-your-intellectual-property-global-business
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on April 25, 2014</span><br />
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<i>This post originally appeared on International Trade Administration Tradeology blog.</i></p>
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<em>Ken Mouradian is the Director of the International Trade Administration&rsquo;s Orlando Export Assistance Center.</em></p>
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You spent the time and money to build your business, including the development of products and services (patents, trade secrets and copyrights), business methods (trade secrets), brands (trademarks and service marks), and your presence on the Internet (trademarks and associated domain names, copyrights). Why wouldn&rsquo;t you protect these Intellectual Property (IP) assets from unauthorized use?</p>
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<a href="http://stopfakes.gov" target="_blank">Stopfakes.gov is your portal to resources for protecting intellectual property.</a>Many small businesses are at a disadvantage in not having the expertise or resources to prevent theft of their intellectual property in the global marketplace. So in recognition of <a href="http://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/ipday/" target="_blank">World IP Day</a> on April 26, here are some simple, practical measures that any exporter can take to protect their IP assets:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/innovation/five-tips-protecting-your-intellectual-property-global-business" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Innovation Technology and BusinessFri, 25 Apr 2014 16:04:32 +0000asowah2586 at http://www.mbda.govNew Year, New Business...http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/new-year-new-business
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on January 2, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="2014 Business Resolutions" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/2014goals.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" />Looking for New Year&#39;s resolutions for your business. No business, or business owner, is perfect, and there is always room for improvement. In case you missed it, here are 10 top articles on business resolutions to help you grow your business.</p>
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<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/12/29/small-business-new-years-resolutions/4241469/" target="_blank">10 small-business resolutions for the new year</a><br />
What could you do to make your small business better in 2014? Let these New Year&#39;s Resolutions from small-business owners and managers in the Shreveport, La., area inspire you to get started on a more prosperous 2014.</p>
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<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3023556/work-smart/11-new-years-resolutions-you-can-actually-keep" target="_blank"> 11 New Year&#39;s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep</a><br />
Because after 2013, well, let&#39;s just say we all need more realistic targets this time around. What&#39;s the last New Year&#39;s resolution you actually kept? If you&#39;re better than us and have cut down on your spending, effectively managed stress, or lost ten pounds and actually used that gym membership, than you need not read any further. For the rest of us, we&#39;re going to try and make things a bit more manageable.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/new-year-new-business" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthTechnology and BusinessThu, 02 Jan 2014 20:31:02 +0000asowah2399 at http://www.mbda.govSymposium Offers Cutting Edge Informationhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/mbda-agency/symposium-offers-cutting-edge-information
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on November 21, 2013</span><br />
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<img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/facebook_teleeverything.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 143px; float: right;" />The 2013 Rainbow PUSH Coalition &amp; Citizen Education Fund Public Policy Institute &amp; Media and Telecommunications Symposium was held Nov. 15 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.</p>
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The annual event titled &ldquo;The Future of Media: Policies, People and Players,&rdquo; presented cutting edge information about racial diversity in the media landscape and how to think more broadly about media policy. It also covered recent strides in telecommunications and how to bridge the &ldquo;digital divide.&rdquo;</p>
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&ldquo;The information shared during this symposium is necessary for all Americans to know, as we seek to change the tide to a multi-cultural, multi-racial progressive agenda,&rdquo; said Martin King, Chairman, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. &ldquo;We want those attending to go back to their communities and spread a message of hope and responsibility.&rdquo;</p>
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Kimberly Marcus, Associate Director for the Office of Legislative, Education &amp; Intergovernmental Affairs at the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), was one of the panelists in the &ldquo;Tele-everything: Broadband and Remote Access to Energy, Health and the Economy,&rdquo; session.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/mbda-agency/symposium-offers-cutting-edge-information" target="_blank">read more</a></p>MBDA Agency Technology and BusinessThu, 21 Nov 2013 22:04:29 +0000asowah2294 at http://www.mbda.govNew Online Security Course Available to Small Business Ownershttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/new-online-security-course-available-small-business-owners
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on November 5, 2013</span><br />
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<img alt="Learning on a keyboard" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/learning_on_keyboard.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" />Small businesses can help keep their business information safe and protect their online information with a new free course from the U.S. Small Business Administration.</p>
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In support of President Obama proclaiming October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, SBA is launching this new course, designed for small businesses, to provide an overview on how to secure business information, identify security threats and guard against cyber-attacks.&nbsp;</p>
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Cybersecurity for Small Businesses is one of SBA&rsquo;s newest online courses to help business owners safeguard their information from computer attacks and determine their readiness against security breaches.&nbsp; The course, available at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/tools/sba-learning-center/training/cybersecurity-small-businesses" target="_blank">http://www.sba.gov/tools/sba-learning-center/training/cybersecurity-small-businesses</a>, teaches best cybersecurity practices and protection against cyber threats for the nation&rsquo;s small business community.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/technology-and-business/new-online-security-course-available-small-business-owners" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Technology and BusinessTue, 05 Nov 2013 20:33:44 +0000asowah2277 at http://www.mbda.gov